Filter



Dec. 11, 1945.' P. VAN WINKLE 2,390,628

FILTER Y Filed July 28, 1943 a1 j z5 35@ 40 2 M -zl 4.04. i

Patented Dec. 1l, 1945 FILTER Paul Van Winkie, Scarsdale, N. Y.,assignor, by mesne assignments, to George B. Finnegan, Jr., New York, N.Y., as trustee i Application July 2s, 1943, sei-iai No. 496,466 Y 4claims. (Cl. 21o-iss) The invention relates to improvements in filterpress parts and more particularly to a new and i useful lter press plateand the associated frame therefor.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in parthereinafter and in part will i be obvious herefrom, or may be learned bypractice with the invention, the same being realized and attained bymeans of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in theappended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements,combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawing, referred to herein and constituting a parthereof, illustrates one embodiment of the invention, and together withthe description; serves to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawing:

Fig, l is a front elevation of a lter press plate embodying theinvention, showing a lter medium in position thereagainst with partsthereof broken away to show the construction of the plate;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and Y Fig. 3 is ahorizontal section on line 3-3' of Fig. 1; showing a plurality of platesand frames in assembled relation in a filter press.

Objects of the invention are to provide an iinproved filter plate inwhich the drainage grid is removable from the surrounding and supportingframe or window, said drainage grid thereby being capable of replacementupon breakage of any individual part thereof without requiring thereplacement of the` entire drainage grid .or f the frame which supportsit. Moreover, by virtue of said arrangement and construction, thedrainage grid is preferably made up of a plurality of separated andindividually removable elements which are suflciently loosely mounted inthe supporting frame so a's to permit a substantial expansion andcontraction of the drainage members Without warping or buckling thereofor of any parts of the press under changes of temperature and varyingmoisture conditions and other influences which normally cause warping,buckling or undesirable expansion movements.

Another object of the invention `is to provide.

with such movable and expansible grid construe-f tion, a bordering frameor supporting window' for the grid which will be of great strength,integrity and impermeability to leakage under high pressures,temperatures, and other physical and chemical influences. With this endin view the invention provides a grid-supporting frame or window whichis preferably integral in construction and material, preferably beingformed of solid Bakelite or like strong and chemically inert material sothat possibility of leakage through joints therein-is avoided. Anotherfeature of the invention resides in the arrangement of the compositedrainage grid and its supporting frame and enveloping window or borderwith respect to the intervening frames which assist sures, saidpressures are absorbed substantially entirely by the solid borderingportions of the iilter plates, and frames, thereby relieving therelatively delicate and loosely mounted parts comprising the grids ofthefplates from such presv sures, By this arrangement the drainage gridis enabled to withstand any reasonable hydrostatic pressure incurredduring the filtration cycle Without subjecting the parts thereof to anysubstantial mechanical stress. In accordance with another feature of theinvention all parts of the filter press plates and frames may be andpreferably are made of Bakelite or other` similar strong, rigidchemically inert material, preferably laminated with cloth, paper orother fibrous material, which feature has been found very desirable anduseful inthe filtration of many acids, bases and other penetratingreagents destructive to wood, metal and other materials.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby readyremoval of the drainagel grid members from the surrounding window framecan be eiected without requiring any breach in or mechanical`disassemblyof any part of said surrounding integral frame. In accordance with thisfeature of the invention the grooved drainage grid members are lightlyheld in place by a novel -and specialform of dowel construction wherebythe grid members may be readily assembled and disassembled from thesurrounding frame. Another object of the invention is to provide aconstruction wheren all of the parts of the composite filter plate arecut from .asingle integral piece of material, such as laminatedBakelite, the cutting-out operations being such that spaces for thepurpose of permitting expansion between the drainage grid 'members andthe frame and between each other are automatically provided by saidcutting-out operations.

Another object of the invention is to provide 'a form of frame for aplate and frame filter press tions of said plates are relieved from saidsubjection to' such stresses.

Other novel features of the invention will be pointed out hereafter orwill be obvious from the disclosure and context. It will be understoodthat the foregoing general description and the following detaileddescription as Well are exemplary and explanatory of the invention, butare not restrictive thereof.

Referring now in detail to the present preferred embodiment of the.invention illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing, itwill be clear that the invention is designed to accommodate itself tosubstantially any standard lter press construction so far as thesupporting framework and the assembling and tightening devices areconcerned. The plates which constitute the major working units of themechanism in forming the assembled press comprising an externalrectangular frame I of Bakelite or similar plastic, preferably laminatedwith kraft paper, cloth or the like, or of other material withequivalent chemical andmechanical properties, said frame beingpreferably integral or solid throughout its rectangular extent so that,in accordance with the invention, all cracks, seams and leakage openingstherethrough are avoided.

Suitable inlet holes or eyes 2 are formed in the upper corner or cornersof the plate frames I in known manner for the admission of slurry orliquid to be filtered. Either or both'of the lower corners of frame Iare similarly apertured at 3 to provide drainage channels or conduitsfor the discharge of filtrate, lcommunication thereto 'from the lowerends of the vertical drainage channels in the drainage grids beingprovided as hereinafter described.

The drainage grid portion of the plate is formed by saw-cutting agenerally rectangular window or opening in the solid rectangular platefrom which the frame I is formed. Said opening is cut along the top line5, the sides lines 6 and I and the bottom line 8, it being noted that acurved boss or enlarged portion 9 is formed at each of the corners toreinforce the surrounding frame adjacent the eyes 2 and 3. As shown, thesaw-cuts 5, 6, 1 and 8 are of a width sulcient to provide a gap orclearance around the entire cut-out edge, said gap being preferably 1/8"wide, thereby to provide room for expansion of the internal drainagegrid under changing temperatures and moisture conditions.

The drainage grid comprising the portionl of the original block or plateof material outlined within the saw-cut -8 may'constitute a single solidpiece of the material, but preferably, in accordance with the invention,same is formed of a plurality of panels or strips. As shown, there arefour such panels numbered I0, II, I2 and I3, respectively. As will benoted from the drawing, each of said panels is separated from theadjacent one by a cut or gap I4, formed by the act of sawing or dividingup the internal rectangle into the several strips or panels. Saidinternal gaps I4 thereby provide additional spaces for lateral expansionof the grid-forming members.

Each of the grid-forming panels Ill-I3 is, as shown, provided withvertical lands 2IlA and grooves 2I which preferably run from near thetop to near the bottom of the panel on each.

vertical face thereof. As shown, said grooves are of uniform depththroughout their length, but the invention is not limited with respectto the formation of the drainage surface of the drainage grid or panelsand same may be of any known or suitable construction. rugated,pyramided, knobbed or formed with any desired arrangement ofcrosschannels or manifolds.

Any suitable arrangement for drainage of the plates into the bottomconduits 3 may be provided. As shown, one or more horizontalcrosschannels 25 may be provided near the bottom of the grid panels andsame may communicate with the conduits 3 by means of conduits 26 whichare angled in from the surface of the crosschannel 25 to the center ofthe frame I from each side of the plate. This construction permitscleaning of the grid without removing the plate from the press. In thesame manner horizontal cross-channels 28 maybe provided near the top ofthe grid for introduction of wash water which may be directed thereintofrom the upper channels'2 by angled conduits 29. It will be understood,however, that the invention is not limited to the type of filtratedischarge channels and wash water channels and conduits, as internalmanifold construction therefor may .be provided or any other known andsuitable type of design for these purposes.

The invention provides novel means for loosely holding the severaldrainage grid panels Ill-I3 in position in the solid frame I so thatsame may be 40 assembled and disassembled readily. As embodied. theupper ends of each of the several panels are socketed at a plurality ofpoints 3l) to receive lower ends of loosely seated dowels 3|, the upperends of said dowels projecting into suitable recesses or sockets formedin the overhead portion of the solid frame I. A similar construction isprovided at the lower ends of the panels, said ends being provided withsockets 32 which sockets, however, are, twice the depth of the sockets30 above. Dowels 33 are thus adapted to seat fully into the sockets 32and be flush with the ends thereof when so seated. Sockets 34 are formedin the bottom portion of the solid frame 3, said sockets being of.one-half the length ofv normal depth, i. e. the dowels 33. By means ofthis construction it is possible to place the panelsin position so thatthe upper dowels 3i are seated in the upper sockets 30. By holding theplate and panels upside down the upper dowels are thus located andseated while the bottom dowels 33 settle fully into the sockets 32. Bythen turning the plate into its normal upright position, the bottomdowels 33 drop into the bottom sockets 34 thus locking the grid inplace. This construction provides means for readily inserting andremoving the grid' panels with respect to the frame I and also allowsfor vertical expansion of each panel. Suitable washers 35 are preferablyplaced around each of the dowels above and below so as to maintain lthedesired spacing at the top and bottom of the panel. It will beunderstood that the diameter of the dowels is slightly less than that ofthe sockets surround- That is, it may be corframe l I, the panels beingpreferably loosely slidable on such rods. ,Y l

. The invention also. provides framesrfor'spacing the filter platesso'asto form the usual illtration chambers therebetween. 1 As shown, saidframes `are composed of solid, integral rectangular membersfshapedessentially like the plate holding `frames I. However, theopen internalrectangle or windows" of said frames; 40 are slightly smaller than the'Vcorresponding `,open portions of the rectangular plate frames I, therebyproviding that thesolid portions of the frames 40 overlap the gaps 5, 6,1 and 8 between the frame I and the grid formingv panels therewithin. Asshown inrFig. 2, for example, the upper edges of the frame 40 extendsubstantially lbelow .the gap 5 `and there is a similar-overlapping atthe bottom and along the side edges of said frames 4U. This constructioninsures that upon closing of the press under pressure the full stress ofthat pressure will beborne by the frames 40 and the abutting plateframes I, the floating drainage grids being relatively free Afrom suchstress but held securely in place by the overlapping of the frames 40.

As shown, any lsuitable form of lter medium 45 is disposed between theadjacent surfaces of the frames I and 40 so as to lie against the landsof the drainage grids and also to serve as sealing gaskets between theabutting surfaces of the frames I and 40.

The words ,gridjand drainage grid as used herein are intended to mean alter cloth-supporting element that has drainage channels therein. Theelement may be either simple or complex in'that it may be comprised of asingle panel or made up of a plurality of panels or sections such asil), Il, IZ and I3, characterized by having alternating cloth-supportinglands and drainage channels. The drainage grid and its holding frame maybe either rectangular or any other shape that circumstances may dictateas being appropriate for the iilter press frame or theA drainage gridthereof.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specificmechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom-within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from theprinciples of the invention and without sacrificing its chiefadvantages.

. WhatIclaim is:

1. In a iilter press, in combination, a lterpress plate having an outerframe and a drainage grid removably mounted within said frame. a

filter medium inthe form of a sheet overlying the Y surface of saidouter frame and drainage grid, and

adapted to be pressed into close' engagement With .said lter medium, theborder portion of said spacing frame being wider than that of saidfirstmentioned plateframe so as to overlap the junction between saidplate frame and the drainage grid removably mounted therewithin, andmeans for pressing said spacing frame tightly against the plate frame toseal the press for iiltration.

2. In a filter press, in combinationl a iilter.-

press plate having an outer frame formed of an integral piece ofmaterial and a drainage grid removably mounted within said frame, ailterV medium in the form of a sheet overlying the surframe having aleak-proof surface formed lof a continuous integral piece of material,and a drainage grid composed of a plurality of separate verticallydisposed channel forming members, said channels running from the top tothe bottom of the grid, an inlet inthe frame near the rtop thereof tosupply matter to be ltered and an outlet near the bottom of the frameto'discharge liquid which .travels to the bottom of said channel, afllter medium in the form of a sheetoverlying the surface of said outerframe anddrainage grid, and a hollow rectangular spacing frame mountedand adapted to be pressed into close engagement with said lter medium,the border portion of said l spacing frame being wider than that of saidfirstmentioned plate frame so as to `overlap the Junction between saidplateframe and the drainage grid removably mounted therewithin, andmeans for pressing said spacing frame tightly against the plate frame toseal the press for filtration.

4. In a lter press in combination a plurality of rectangular frames ofintegral solid material between said plate forming frames to formiiltration chambers, said spacing frames and plate frames being designedto receive and transmit t0- gether the entire mechanical stress ofclosing the units of the press together while said drainage grids aresubstantially free from said stress, said spacing frames being ofsubstantially the same A external dimensions as said plate frames and ofless internal dimensions than said plate frames.

- l PAUL VAN WINKLE.

a hollow rectangular spacing frame mounted and

